Product Spotlight: To the Stars and Beyond

The ASM-135 ASAT is an air-launched anti-satellite multistage missile that was developed by Ling-Temco-Vought’s LTV Aerospace division. The ASM-135 was carried exclusively by United States Air Force (USAF) F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.

On December 21st, 1982, an F-15A was used to perform the first captive carry ASM-135 test flight from the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California in the United States.

On August 20th, 1985, President Reagan authorized a test against a satellite. The test was delayed to provide notice to the United States Congress. The target was the Solwind P78-1, an orbiting solar observatory that was launched on February 24th, 1979.

On September 13th, 1985, Maj. Wilbert D. “Doug” Pearson, flying the “Celestial Eagle” F-15A 76-0084 launched an ASM-135 ASAT about 320 kilometres (200 mi) west of Vandenberg Air Force Base and destroyed the Solwind P78-1 satellite flying at an altitude of 555 kilometres (345 mi). Prior to the launch, the F-15 – flying at Mach 1.22 – executed a 3.8 g0 (37 m/s2) zoom climb at an angle of 65 degrees. The ASM-135 ASAT was automatically launched at 11,600 metres (38,100 ft) while the F-15 was flying at Mach 0.934 (992.2 km/h; 616.5 mph). The 14 kilograms (30 lb) MHV collided with the 910 kilograms (2,000 lb) Solwind P78-1 satellite at closing velocity of 24,000 kilometres per hour (15,000 mph; 6.7 km/s).

NASA learned of U.S. Air Force plans for the Solwind ASAT test in July 1985. NASA modeled the effects of the test. This model determined that debris produced would still be in orbit in the 1990s. It would force NASA to enhance debris shielding for its planned space station.

Earlier the U.S. Air Force and NASA had worked together to develop a Scout-launched target vehicle for ASAT experiments. NASA advised the U.S. Air Force on how to conduct the ASAT test to avoid producing long-lived debris. However, congressional restrictions on ASAT tests intervened.

In order to complete an ASAT test before an expected Congressional ban took effect (as it did in October 1985), the DoD chose to use the existing Solwind astrophysics satellite as a target.

NASA worked with the DoD to monitor the effects of the tests using two orbital debris telescopes and a reentry radar deployed to Alaska.

NASA assumed the torn metal would be bright. Surprisingly, the Solwind pieces turned out to appear so dark as to be almost undetectable. Only two pieces were seen. NASA Scientists theorized that the unexpected Solwind darkening was due to carbonization of organic compounds in the target satellite; that is, when the kinetic energy of the projectile became heat energy on impact, the plastics inside Solwind vaporized and condensed on the metal pieces as soot.

NASA used U.S. Air Force infrared telescopes to show that the pieces were warm with heat absorbed from the Sun. This added weight to the contention that they were dark with soot and not reflective. The pieces decayed quickly from orbit, implying a large area-to-mass ratio. According to NASA, as of January 1998, 8 of 285 trackable pieces remained in orbit. The last piece of debris, COSPAR 1979-017GX, SATCAT 16564, deorbited May 9th, 2004, according to SATCAT.

Look for Hobby Master’s rendition of the Celestial Eagle sometime in October.

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Panzerkampf Continues to Brush Up on its Russian

No stranger to Russian armament, Panzerkampf recently announced plans to offer an additional three VPK-7829 Bumerang K17 Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicles to their growing arsenal of 1:72 scale military vehicles. Intriguingly, all three feature dust-covered road wheels thereby giving them a more weathered appearance. Its not clear if this will become a trend for this prolific manufacturer or simply a test to see if collectors prefer the look to the more traditional factory fresh motif. No release dates were listed so we are assuming they’ll be out-and-about for the holiday shopping season.

Previously the Company had released a standard fare woodlands scheme K17 earlier this year and we were awaiting word on the release of their Moscow Victory Day parade version that we thought would roll off the assembly line at the same time. So, in effect, we are now awaiting four K17s to hit the market, bringing the combined K16/K17 total to seven. That’s pretty impressive even though we doubt the vehicle has actually been embroiled in a conflict as yet.

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Anatomy of War: The Abrams Gets a Bigger Gun

Defense News has obtained images of what they refer to as the M1 Thumper — essentially an upgunned version of the M1 Abrams main battle tank. This new variant features a huge 140mm gun embedded in an enlarged turret as well as a supposed autoloader to handle the over-sized munitions. Its not clear if the US Army will give this ubiquitous version of the Abrams the go-ahead for full production and how effective the new gun is against some of the latest tanks being fielded by other adversarial nations.

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Anatomy of War: “Mess with Us at Your Peril”

Sixty Minutes Australia recently aired a lengthy episode focused on a potential war between the PRC and 29 western nations in the Indo-Pacific region. Based upon a recent military exercise known as RIMPAC which took place off of the Hawaiian shores, the massive wargame, which encompasses air, ground and sea power, is not only designed to ensure that our forces work in concert with one another should war break out but is also meant to send a signal to our potential adversaries that we are ready should a conflict brew up. Needless to say, the most obvious target of a war would be Taiwan, since the PRC has expressly said that it wants to return the island nation to the fold of mainland China some time within the next decade. That said, there are other regions that could come into play should a conflict erupt, among them South Korea, Japan and even The Philippines.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal went so far as to postulate how a conflict would likely take place given what they know about the two sides military preparedness. And, as recently as May, Chinese general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, said that the PRC must be ready to take the island, by force if necessary, no later than 2027. We invite you to spend a few minutes and watch the accompanying video and bone up on what could come should diplomacy fail.

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Corgi Sets Off for the Realm of the Unknown

Earlier today at the Royal International Air Tattoo held in England, Corgi announced plans to both bring back an old favorite and, by doing so, enter an all-new regime that may not be familiar to them or their collectors. Long sold out for several years, the TSR-2 is a cancelled Cold War strike and reconnaissance aircraft developed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The TSR-2 was designed around both conventional and nuclear weapons delivery: it was to penetrate well-defended front line areas at low altitudes and very high speeds, and then attack high-value targets in rear areas. Another intended combat role was to provide high-altitude, high-speed stand-off, side-looking radar and photographic imagery and signals intelligence aerial reconnaissance. Only one air frame flew and test flights and weight-rise during design indicated that the aircraft would be unable to meet its original stringent design specifications. The design specifications were reduced as the result of flight testing.

The original test aircraft was painted in an all-while scheme indicative of its undergoing evaluation testing and was neither deployed nor given the go-ahead to enter mass production. Interestingly, this new Corgi release is painted in an operational scheme, meaning Corgi is making a departure of sorts by offering up its first “notional” or “what-if” model had the TSR-2 been given the green light and actually produced for front line service with the RAF.

Judging by the pictures provided, the model and accompanying artwork seem to be fairly far along so we are assuming it will be available for purchase and delivery during the second half of 2024. As a guess, other versions will likely get made should this particular model do well at retail. Moreover, Corgi will be looking at sales figures quite closely and perhaps offer “notional” schemes for other aircraft and military vehicles further down-the-road, much like Hobby Master’s recently released look at a Ukrainian F-16 Viper or Egyptian Su-35. Frankly, we think its an excellent way to bring back an old favorite that may be languishing on the back burner for whatever reason and generate new interest in subjects that may have run their course given the lack of new historical information available to them. For instance, could a colorful Manfred von Richthofen Fokker D. VII or D. VIII be in the cards? Maybe…

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Tales of Transparency: Writer(s) Wanted

From time to time we do our best to help out our suppliers any which way we can — offering advice on subjects they may be considering, reviewing text, assessing marketing material and generally looking to give them a leg up on the competition so they can hit the ground running once their product hits the street. Recently, the folks over at Motorcity Classics asked if we knew of anyone that might be looking to earn some extra bucks. Essentially, they are searching for someone with a cursory background in military matters — someone who can string together words in a meaningful manner so that they better describe the products they are selling.

Here’s a job description they forwarded to me, which helps to explain what and who they are looking for:

Job Title: Looking for a Military History Expert and Scale Model Replica Enthusiast
Company: Motor City Classics
Location: Remote (with occasional Zoom/Teams meetings)
Type: Part-Time/Consultant
About Us: Motor City Classics has been manufacturing, importing, and distributing scale model
replicas for nearly 40 years. We hold licenses with several large companies such as Coca-Cola,
PACCAR, General Motors, Ford, just to name a few.
Job Description: We are seeking a knowledgeable and passionate Military History Expert and
Scale Model Replica Enthusiast to join our team. In this role, you will receive samples of our
scale models, take precise measurements of models, and provide detailed descriptions that
include historical context and the unique features of each replica.
Responsibilities:

Free Samples and additional compensation per model
How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to email us at
contact@motorcityclassicsinc.com. Writing samples are encouraged but not required.
We look forward to seeing your application and learning more about your passion for military
history and model replicas!

Receive and review samples of scale model replicas.

Measure and document the dimensions of each model accurately.

Research and write detailed historical descriptions related to each model.

Highlight and describe the features and details of the replicas.

Collaborate with our design and marketing teams to ensure accurate and engaging
product descriptions.
Requirements:

Deep knowledge of military history.

Passion for and experience with collecting and analyzing scale model replicas.

Strong research and writing skills.

Attention to detail and precision in measurements.

Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
Benefits:

Flexible work hours.

Opportunity to work with a leading company in the model replica industry.

As a former writer myself, all I can say is put your best foot forward if you’re looking to snap up this opportunity. Demonstrate your command of the English language, your knowledge of era-specific weapons platforms and, above all else, refrain from regurgitating the same old information over and over again to earn your keep. People can see through that hyperbole from a thousand yards away. While speed and accuracy is certainly of paramount importance, it shouldn’t come at the expense of writing engaging prose that will sell a product. Good luck and who knows where this may lead.

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Anatomy of War: America, The Arsenal of Democracy

Perhaps because they are located off the beaten trail in Dubois, Wyoming, The National Museum of Military Vehicles has been increasing its awareness by steadily releasing a series of videos discussing US participation in the Second World War. Over the course of the last few weeks, we’ve covered several of their most recent discussions, posting videos that explain the evolution of US tank destroyers and light tanks, as well as a discussion on the development of the M26 Pershing tank. Earlier today the Museum added yet another video — this one detailing the lessons learned from our earliest defeats in both the PTO and ETO and how these translated into the meteoric rise in US arms production during World War II. We hope you get a better understanding of how the US proved to be instrumental in stopping then turning back the Axis powers once our military forces and defense production was ratcheted up to provide badly needed reinforcements across the globe.

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Anatomy of War: The Pershing

In the wake of their excellent series on both US light tanks and tank destroyers that saw service during WWII, comes news that the National Museum of Military Vehicles has produced yet another video — this one dealing with the Pershing heavy tank. The discussion traces the evolution of the so-called T-20 series of heavier tanks and why it took so long for it to enter combat towards the latter stages of the Second World War. Designed, in effect, to deal with some of the latest German tanks, and running contrary to US military doctrine of the time, the Pershing arrived just as US forces were entering Germany proper, only to be parceled out to a couple of US armored divisions. They proved successful nonetheless, and demonstrated why they were needed when most war planners had considered the war won and the Sherman a war winner.

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Hobby Master Taps the YF-23

No sooner than we post information concerning their latest product announcements comes an important addendum – the roll out of the YF-23. Built by the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas consortium in the 1980s and flown in a run off against the YF-22 in 1990, the YF-23 is an American single-seat, twin-engine, supersonic stealth fighter aircraft technology demonstrator designed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The design team was a finalist in the USAF’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) demonstration/validation competition, battling the YF-22 team for full-scale development and production. Two YF-23 prototypes were built.

While we applaud the decision to tackle the YF-23, it does come with a measure of moribund curiosity given Hobby Master’s penchant for choosing subjects that has “legs” — meaning several liveries or operators are available to justify the exorbitant cost of producing the mold. With only two demonstrators ever being built, and the aircraft never seeing service with either the USAF or any other user nation, we wonder what spurred them to give the YF-23 the green light.

Frankly, given the number of collectors who would give their right arm for a fully built-up replica of the YF-23, we think it’s a good choice, and hope this signals that Hobby Master is willing to bet on other short-run aircraft that haven’t been addressed by other model makers. While no price point has been established as yet, the YF-23 will likely fetch somewhere on the order of $150 US; possibly more as they await the initial reaction to the announcement. Production forecasts could be “up-in-the-air” too, perhaps numbering several thousand examples in an effort to earn back the costs of making and researching the mold. So, while we will list the model on our web site and continue to follow-up on the announcement, we’ll hold off on listing a price for now, at least until we hear back from either the manufacturer or distributor.

Update: After speaking privately with William Liu at Hobby Master he indicated that no one museum, distributor or entity commissioned a YF-23 replica and that it was undertaken purely at the behest of Hobby Master. Some collectors have speculated that it must have been an outsider, such as either the National Museum of the United States Air Force or the Western Museum of Flight — where the YF-23s are on display — who saw an opportunity in promoting and selling a replica of the YF-23. While a joint venture would surely have made sense given the economies of scale and risk spreading a collaborative undertaking would have created, Hobby Master saw an opportunity, likely based upon collector interest, and went for it. No doubt these models will likely be shown and offered to both Museum’s gift shops but for now, the YF-23 venture is being funded and hawked solely by Hobby Master.

No price point was discussed so we are awaiting word from our distributor to determine its ultimate cost. The “Black Widow”, or all-black version of the prototype YF-23 will almost certainly follow up on the “Gray Ghost” although no details were discussed. We also brought to their attention that a naval version of the YF-23 was considered at the time so its conceivable that a notional take on a navalized version of the YF=23 could one day see the light of day.

Interestingly, there is a possibility that Hobby Master will produce a Japanese version of the YF-23. According to sources, the Japanese have long sought to build an advanced next generation aircraft that can compete against several adversarial aircraft, particularly the PRC’s fifth generation Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” fighter. Several options have been looked at over the years including an upgraded version of the YF-23. As the National Interest points out, the Japanese have had a continued interest in resurrecting the YF-23, perhaps adding thrust vectoring to the aircraft to make it a more agile dogfighter. While this would make the aircraft heavier and likely less speedy, newer and more capable engines could offset the weight increase.

In other news, Hobby Master indicated that other new toolings were in the works although we are not at liberty to discuss them as yet. This marks a departure for the company, who had relied upon some older toolings to see them through in recent years. So expect some other product announcements shortly, many of which will come as welcome news to collectors.

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Anatomy of War: Base Building in the Pacific

In a growing sign of the times, and a demonstration to the Peoples Republic of China that the US is prepared to defend its interests in and around the Indo-Pacific region, the US Marine Corps has refurbished its airfield on Peleliu and begun flying aircraft in and out of the tiny island. Seized by the US Marines from the Japanese during their island hopping campaign in the Second World War, the Marine Corps had largely abandoned the island in recent years, preferring to locate its assets to other more robust island bases. However, with the PRC continuing to flex its muscles and repeatedly indicating they are prepared to take Taiwan by force, if necessary, should diplomacy fail, US war planners have upgraded and re-certified the so-called “Sledge” runway (named after Marine Corps veteran, Eugene Sledge), thus spreading out their forces across the Pacific should a surprise attack by the PRC take place. Along with this, the Marine Corps has been rapidly expanding and hardening their other Indo-Pacific bases, most notably on Guam, and introduce newer weapons platforms to bolster their force structure.

For more information, feel free to stop by Task and Purpose and review their latest analysis on the Indo-Pacific region.

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